Rochester Scholars Introduces Students to a World of Career Options

July 12, 2010

WHAT: From studying the intricacies of the human brain to learning about the Italian culture, students in the Rochester Scholars program at the University of Rochester engage in hands-on classroom activities during their summer vacation. The Rochester Scholars academic enrichment program provides students from the Greater Rochester area in grades 9-12 with the opportunity to experience a taste of college life.

The program also offers a residential experience, where students live on campus for a one to two week period. Undergraduate students serve as residential assistants, helping participants navigate the peer-living experience and introducing them to Rochester's museums, hiking trails, and cultural events.

DATE, PLACE: Session A runs from July 12-23, Session B runs from July 26-30, Classes, which are held on the River Campus and Medical Center, include:

Astronomy: Planets, Stars, and NASA
How does astronomy impact day-to-day life? Time, days, seasons, and weather revolve around astronomy – and that's just the beginning. In this course, students will learn about the solar system's inner and outer planets; comets and asteroids; the sun; star birth, life, and death; NASA's manned and unmanned space missions; and recent events and spacecraft launches in the news.

Bang Your Head! Heavy Metal Music and Its History
Behind the screaming guitars, thundering pulse, and soaring vocals of heavy metal music lies an impressive history of censorship, rebellion, and redemption. In this course, students will study both the musical structure and the fascinating social and cultural history of metal through reading, listening, discussion, and hands-on activities.

Build a Mobile Robot
Students learn to build a robot that moves around and interacts with the environment. Sensors, motors, computer programming, robot design, and construction come together in this hands-on workshop. They learn how to program, work effectively in teams, and solve engineering problems, and the start-to-finish design process for building a working system.

How to Beat Dr. House at His Own Game!
Amber lies in the ICU hooked up to a ventilator and heart and respiratory monitors. Her heart starts to race. So what's next? This course teaches students the underlying physiology of crucial human organ systems and how to record the biological signals which dictate how they perform. Students will learn about vital signs such as "hot" muscles, blood pressure, and electrical signals produced by the heart.

Italy! Customs, Culture, and Cuisine!
Manga! Manga! Manga! Students in this course will learn about some of the most well-known and loved culture, customs, and cuisine of Italy. Hands-on activities include regional cooking and traditional arts and games such as bocce and Venetian vase creations.

Laser Wars! The Optics of Laser Tag
From Star Wars to The Incredibles, laser beams have found their way into our imaginations as extremely cool weapons of the future. However, their uses in the real world vary, from the tiny IR laser that reads your computer's CD drive to the extremely powerful CO2 lasers used in complicated surgical procedures. This course uses the popular game of laser tag to introduce fundamental concepts in optics.

Rochester CSI
Step aside David Caruso, because students in Rochester CSI are taking over the crime lab and jumping into the world of forensic science. Students will learn how to investigate a crime scene by examining fingerprints, artificial blood, hairs, and DNA to determine the perpetrator in this ultimate whodunit.

Understanding Animal Behavior
This course examines the evolutionary biology, ecology, and mechanisms of animal behavior. Students will learn about animal behavior by observing animals at the Seneca Park Zoo and the role of learning, memory, and sensory input used by animals to find food. At the end of the course, students will have an accurate understanding of evolution and different ways of studying animal behavior.

What's Up Doc? Exploring the Pre-med Experience
What's it like to be a physician? What does it take to become a doctor? Students enrolled in this course will meet with practicing physicians, medical students, and other experts in the field of medicine. They'll explore hands-on medical procedures, examine equipment, and discuss medical ethics and the role of the physician.

Rochester Scholars Final Day Presentations
Session A - Friday, July 23, 2010 from noon to 1 p.m., Schlegel Hall Rotunda
Session B – Friday, July 30, 2010 from noon to 1 p.m., Interfaith Chapel, lower level
Through demonstrations and poster displays, students present what they have learned over the course of the week. Open to friends, family, and community members.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Media interested in covering Rochester Scholars should call Melissa Greco Lopes at 585.276.3693 or 585.260.6666 to schedule a visit.

About the University of Rochester
The University of Rochester (www.rochester.edu) is one of the nation's leading private universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College, School of Arts and Sciences, and Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are complemented by its Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, and the Memorial Art Gallery.